This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/01/massachusetts-special-election-ed-markey
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts special election pits Washington veteran against newcomer | Massachusetts special election pits Washington veteran against newcomer |
| (12 days later) | |
| Democratic US representative Edward Markey and Republican former Navy Seal Gabriel Gomez won their party primaries on Tuesday, setting up a race between a 36-year veteran of Washington politics and a political newcomer for the US Senate seat formerly held by John Kerry. | Democratic US representative Edward Markey and Republican former Navy Seal Gabriel Gomez won their party primaries on Tuesday, setting up a race between a 36-year veteran of Washington politics and a political newcomer for the US Senate seat formerly held by John Kerry. |
| Markey, of Malden, defeated fellow US representative Stephen Lynch, of South Boston, in the Democratic primary while Gomez, a Cohasset businessman, bested former US attorney Michael Sullivan and state representative Daniel Winslow in the GOP primary, according to unofficial returns. The special election is scheduled for 25 June. | Markey, of Malden, defeated fellow US representative Stephen Lynch, of South Boston, in the Democratic primary while Gomez, a Cohasset businessman, bested former US attorney Michael Sullivan and state representative Daniel Winslow in the GOP primary, according to unofficial returns. The special election is scheduled for 25 June. |
| The race to fill the seat Kerry left to become US secretary of state has been overshadowed by the deadly Boston Marathon bombing, and the candidates had to temporarily suspend their campaigns. | The race to fill the seat Kerry left to become US secretary of state has been overshadowed by the deadly Boston Marathon bombing, and the candidates had to temporarily suspend their campaigns. |
| Even before the 15 Apri bombing, the campaign had failed to capture the attention of voters compared with the 2010 special election following the death of longtime Democratic senator Edward Kennedy. Former Republican senator Scott Brown won the seat, surprising Democrats, but was ousted last year in another high-profile race by Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren. | Even before the 15 Apri bombing, the campaign had failed to capture the attention of voters compared with the 2010 special election following the death of longtime Democratic senator Edward Kennedy. Former Republican senator Scott Brown won the seat, surprising Democrats, but was ousted last year in another high-profile race by Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren. |
| Markey, 66, led all the other candidates in fundraising and had won the backing early on of Kerry and a large segment of the Democratic establishment, compared to the 58-year-old Lynch, a conservative, self-described "pro-life" Democrat and former ironworker who was dogged in part by his decision to vote against President Barack Obama's 2010 healthcare law. | Markey, 66, led all the other candidates in fundraising and had won the backing early on of Kerry and a large segment of the Democratic establishment, compared to the 58-year-old Lynch, a conservative, self-described "pro-life" Democrat and former ironworker who was dogged in part by his decision to vote against President Barack Obama's 2010 healthcare law. |
| Markey, in his speech to supporters on Tuesday, ticked off a series of his accomplishments during more than three decades in Congress and warned that the national Republican supporters of Gomez are ready to "move mountains of money to buy this election for big oil, and the NRA, and those who want to turn back the clock on women's rights". | Markey, in his speech to supporters on Tuesday, ticked off a series of his accomplishments during more than three decades in Congress and warned that the national Republican supporters of Gomez are ready to "move mountains of money to buy this election for big oil, and the NRA, and those who want to turn back the clock on women's rights". |
| "This campaign is about standing up to the special interests and the extreme Tea Party Republicans who want to stop progress and send our country in the wrong direction. I am ready for that fight," he said. | "This campaign is about standing up to the special interests and the extreme Tea Party Republicans who want to stop progress and send our country in the wrong direction. I am ready for that fight," he said. |
| Lynch told disappointed supporters that he was proud of standing up for working men and women. | Lynch told disappointed supporters that he was proud of standing up for working men and women. |
| Gomez quickly seized on the contrast between the veteran Markey and his own political newcomer status. He noted that in 1976, when Markey was first elected to Congress, Gerald Ford was president, the internet had not been invented, eight-track recordings were popular and he was playing Little League baseball. | Gomez quickly seized on the contrast between the veteran Markey and his own political newcomer status. He noted that in 1976, when Markey was first elected to Congress, Gerald Ford was president, the internet had not been invented, eight-track recordings were popular and he was playing Little League baseball. |
| "If you're looking for an experienced, slick-talking politician, I'm definitely not your guy," Gomez told supporters. | "If you're looking for an experienced, slick-talking politician, I'm definitely not your guy," Gomez told supporters. |
| "If you are looking for an independent voice, a new kind of Republican, take a look at our campaign and I'd welcome your support," he said. | "If you are looking for an independent voice, a new kind of Republican, take a look at our campaign and I'd welcome your support," he said. |
| Gomez, 47, the son of Colombian immigrants, celebrated his outsider status, wearing his lack of Washington experience as a badge of honor. Gomez also had a compelling life story, learning to speak English in kindergarten before going on to become a Navy pilot and Seal, earn an MBA at Harvard Business School and launch a career in private equity. | Gomez, 47, the son of Colombian immigrants, celebrated his outsider status, wearing his lack of Washington experience as a badge of honor. Gomez also had a compelling life story, learning to speak English in kindergarten before going on to become a Navy pilot and Seal, earn an MBA at Harvard Business School and launch a career in private equity. |
| Gomez cast himself as the new face of the Republican party, which has struggled to reach out to minority populations following the defeat last year of GOP presidential candidate and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. | Gomez cast himself as the new face of the Republican party, which has struggled to reach out to minority populations following the defeat last year of GOP presidential candidate and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. |
| Gomez launched his victory speech in Spanish, as he did in campaign ads and on the stump in a state where Hispanic voters are a small but growing slice of the population. | Gomez launched his victory speech in Spanish, as he did in campaign ads and on the stump in a state where Hispanic voters are a small but growing slice of the population. |
| The primary campaign, part of the third US Senate race in Massachusetts in the past four years, was marked in part by the relatively low voter turnout. That turnout was likely hampered by the marathon bombing and the search for the bombers, which consumed the attention of residents across Massachusetts. | The primary campaign, part of the third US Senate race in Massachusetts in the past four years, was marked in part by the relatively low voter turnout. That turnout was likely hampered by the marathon bombing and the search for the bombers, which consumed the attention of residents across Massachusetts. |
| "There are a lot of people who are still down and not wanting to participate in things," said Holly Zaitchik, a retired Boston University professor, after casting her vote for Markey in Wayland. "It's disheartening." | "There are a lot of people who are still down and not wanting to participate in things," said Holly Zaitchik, a retired Boston University professor, after casting her vote for Markey in Wayland. "It's disheartening." |
| Richard Heos, an independent from Woburn, will also be on the 25 June ballot. | Richard Heos, an independent from Woburn, will also be on the 25 June ballot. |
| Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick named his former chief of staff, William "Mo" Cowan, to fill Kerry's seat on an interim basis until after the special election. | Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick named his former chief of staff, William "Mo" Cowan, to fill Kerry's seat on an interim basis until after the special election. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |